Posted: July 11, 1998 at 02:02:29: by Stephen Geard
I can't add too much to this one, as has already been noted the strength of the Nine Walkers was stealth not firepower.Tolkien brifely discusses the implications of the "fading" of the elves on their role in the War of the Ring in Unfinshed Tales (p. 395). He claims that Legolas achieved the least of the Nine Walkers, and points out that Galadriel had faded to the point that she had become "like Manwe," i.e. only able to give advice and gifts, but not active assistance. It is worth noting however that in his drafts of the LOTR Tolkien did seriously consider sending Erestor as one of the Nine Walkers, with Pippin returning to the Shire (see HOME 7:161-2). Erestor was to be included because he was of the half-eleven race. Tolkien was in a Roddenberry style every-race-on-the bridge-of-the-Enterprise mood, and decided that Men, Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Hobbits and Half-elves all needed representation.
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